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APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING VESSELS AGAINST TORPEDO ATTACKS.

No. 338,241. r, Patented Mar. 16, 1886.

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(No Model.) 15 Sheets-Sh eet 2.

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APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING VESSELS AGAINST TORPEDO ATTACKS. NO. 338,241. Patented Mar. 16, 1886.

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(No Model.) 15 Sheets-Sheet 8. A. 0. KOERNER.

APPARATUS FOR PROTEGTING VESSELS AGAINST TORPEDO ATTACKS.

No. 338,241.' Patented Mar; 16, 1886.

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APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING VBSSELS AGAINST TORPEDO'ATTAGKS.

No. 338,241. Patented Mar. 16, 1886.

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APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING VBSSELS AGAINST TORPEDO ATTACKS.

No. 338,241. Patented Mar. 16', 1886.

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No. 338,241. Patented Mar. 16, 1886.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

ALFRED CHRISTOPHER KOERNER, OF PARIS, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR TO HOTOHKISS & 00., OF SAME PLACE.

APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING VESSELS AGAINST TORPEDO ATTACKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 338,241, dated March 16, 1886.

Application filed July 6, 1885. Serial No. 170,699. (No model.) Patented in France April 22, 1885, No. 168,441; in England May 9 1885, No. 5,724, and in Italy June 20,1885, XIX, 18,415.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALFRED CHRISTOPHER KOERNER, of Paris, France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in an Apparatus for Protecting Vessels Against Torpedo Attacks, (for which Letters Patent have been obtained as follows: In Great Britain, No. 5,724, dated May 9,1885; in Italy June 20, 1885, and in France, No. 168,441, filed April 22, 1885, and issued September 21, 1885;) and I do hereby declare that the following is afuil, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention consists of an apparatus forming a metallic shield, divided into sections, surrounding the sides of a war or other vessel at a certain distance therefrom, the structure of which shield is such that it can be conveniently stored on deck or brought into operative position, as required, so that any torpedo designed to be projected against the vessel will be caused. to explode as soon as it comes in contact with the metallic shield, and thus protect the vessel from being disabled by the shock either directly or indirectly.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, Fig. 2, a sectional front elevation, and

Fig. 3 partial plan view, of a war-vessel provided with my protecting apparatus, the apparatus being entirely folded against the vessels side and ready to be unfolded, developed, or displayed. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are similar views, and represent the same vessel with the same apparatus, with the spars lowered and extended horizontally. Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are similar views, and represent the spars lowered horizontally, with the plates forming the protecting-shield unfolded vertically against the sides of the vessel. Figs. 10, 11, and 12 are similar views, in which the said plates have been carried outward from the sides of the vessel toward the end of and depending from the spars, the apparatus then being in its operative protecting position. Fig. 13 is a front elevation, and Fig. 14c a side elevation, (drawn upon an enlarged scale,) showing one of the sections or series of plates composing the shield, the plates being unfolded or the section extended. Fig. 15 is a front elevation, and

Fig. 16 a side elevation of Fig. 15, (enlarged seale,) showing the plates of a section folded up against each other. Fig. 17 is a front elevation, Fig. 18 a side elevation, and Figs. 1.) and 20 partial top views, (enlarged scale,) illustrating the structure of the uppermost plate of a section or series of plates. Fig. 21

is a front elevation, Fig. 22 a side elevation,

elevation, (enlarged scale,) illustrating the structure of the uppermost plate of such sections or series of plates as are lit-ted upon spars which are oblique to the axis of the vessel. Fig. 80 is a side elevation (enlarged scale) illustrating a spar with its accessories. Fig. 31 is a top view thereof; Fig. 32, a partial side elevation, and Fig. a partial front view thereof. Figs. 34, 35, 36, and 37 are enlarged details of the accessories belonging to the spar. Fig. 38 is a front elevation (enlarged scale) of two spars carrying a complete section or series of plates unfolded, showing also the ends of the adjoining sections or series, and Fig. 89 is a side view of the same. Fig.

40 is a plan view of Fig. 38, and Fig. 4.1 is a side view, showing the spars raised and the series of plates folded against each other.

The war or other vessel to be protected against torpedo attacks is provided on each of its sides with a sheet-metal shielding parallel to the said sides and fitted upon special spars. The shield is composed of severalsections or series of plates, the number of the series varying according to the length and shape of the vessel. All the sections are separate from each other.

The entire apparatus can be hoisted on board section after section, and placed in any suitable place in the vessel. hen developed, as shown in Figs. 10, 11,and 12, the sections alternate, and their upper edge is about one or two feet above the sea-level. hen the vessel is lying at anchor, it may be provided with sections fore and aft. Each section is formed of six or more plates of iron, steel, or other suitable metal about one-eighth of an inch thick. Each section is composed of an uppermost plate, a lowermost plate, and intervening or middle plates. The uppermost plate, 1, of a section, (see Fig. 17,) strengthened at its top by an angle-iron, 2, and at its bottom by a rib metal strip, 2, consists of a suitably-wide plate, to which are bolted three guide-rods, 3 3 3, the two outer ones of which are provided with a hook, 4 4, by which the sections are separately hung. Each of the middle plates, 5, (see Fig. 21,) of which there are four, has at its top and bottom a rib or strengthening metal strip, 6 6, provided with guide-rods 3 3 3, by which all of the said plates are connected together, and is further provided with eyes 9, (see Fig. 23,) whereby each plateis connected with the next uppermost plate by means ofthe rod 3, so as to slide thereon. The lowermost plate, 7, of the section (see Fig. 25) has no guide-rods 3, but is provided with ribs 8 8 at top and bottom, and with eyes9 9, (see Fig. 27,) through which pass the guiderods 3 3 of that plate which is immediately above. At the lower edge this plate is also provided with -eyes 1O 10, through which passes an endless cable, serving for bringing all the plates of the section together, as hereinafter set forth. An uppermost plate, 11, of such sections as are located in a position where the spars are not at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the vessel-t. 6., fore and aft, is shown in Fig. 28. The said. plate 11 is similar to the corresponding uppermost plate, 1, Fig. 17, ex-

eept that its carrying-hooks 12 12 are capa ble of motion in slots 13 13, and bear against the angle-iron 2.' This modification is necessary, because, in the first place, the spars fore and aft are of a varying length, and,in the second place,they are diverging. The length of the slots 13 13 should correspond with the length of the spars and with the extent of the obliquity.

In order to fold the section, an endless wire rope, 14, (see Figs. 13, 14, 15, 16, and 38,) is made use of, which rope passes through the eyes 10, surrounds the section on each side, and is fixed at 15 to an eye, 16, by which the raising of each plate successively is effected, a wire rope or aehain being passed through the said eye 16 and used for that purpose. The greater portion of the sections are suspended in such a manner that two of the same are carried by three spars, except fore and aft, where two spars are required for each section. (See Figs. 3, 6, 9, and 12.) Each spar (see Fig. is made of wood or other suitable material, and is fitted into a metal bearing, 18, fixed to the side of the vessel. The bearing 18 (shown in section in Fig. 34) has a hook-shaped projection and forms a point, upon which turns the horizontal journal or axis 19 of a metal arm, 20, secured to the spar. The axis 19 has enlargement, 21, the flat part of which bears against another flat part, 22, formed upon the bearing 18, Fig. 34, when the spar is in the horizontal position shown in Figs. 30 and 31. The enlargement 21 acts to prevent any accidental raising of the spar out of its hearing or socket 18 when it is lowered horizontally. After the spar is lowered it is sustained by two wire ropes, 23 23, each of which is secured to the spar in the eye of a fixed metal ring, 24, surrounding the spar, and they are further secured to the side of the vessel by a ring to hooks 25, or similar devices, Figs. 35, 36, 38, 39, and 40, each provided with a spring-tongue, 26, for preventing the said ring from unhooking. Each spar is provided with asliding metal ring, 27, Figs. 30, 31, 32, 37, 38, and 39, to which is suspended one end of a section by its hook 4. This ring 27 at its upper part is formed with a small eye, 28, to which are secured the two ends of a wire rope, 29, which serves for moving the ring 27, and thus causing the section to be moved in either direction upon the spari. e., for causing the same to pass from the position shown in Fig. 8 to that shown in Fig. 11, and vice versa. The wire rope 29 passes, in the first place, over a pulley, 30, mounted in two brackets, 3L 31, at the end of the spar, to a pulley, 32, mounted in an extension, 33, of the horizontal axis 19. In the second place, it passes over a pulley, 34, mounted upon the end of the said axis 19. The three pulleys 30 32 34 thus serve to guide the wire rope 29, the two ends of which pass to the side of the vessel. (See Figs. 30, 31, 33, 38, and 39.) The three other corresponding pulleys, 35 36 37, belong to the corresponding wire rope which serves to operate the adjacent section, one of the hooks 4 of which is suspended from the ring 27 of the same spar. (See Fig. 32.)

In order to raise and lower each spar from the vertical position shown in Fig. 41 to the horizontal position shown in Fig. 30, I make use of a wire rope, 38, Fig. 30, which is fixed toward the end of the spar and passes to a pulley-block which is on board the vessel. Both brackets 31 31 are connected externally by a cross-piece, 39, Fig. 31, and they are secured to the spar by means of bolts 40 40, and at their inner ends they are connected to the fixed ring 24, which they engage at 41 41, in order tosecure it firmly.

Supposing the entire apparatus is storedon board, it is unfolded, developed, or displayed as follows:

First. The spars, together with their accessories, are hoisted overboard, and while keeping the same vertical they are each placed into their bearing 18. The wire ropes 23 are then hooked into the devices 25.

Second. The carrying-rings 27 27 being in the position they occupy in Fig. 41, each section of plates is hoisted overboard and secured by its hooks 4 to its ring 27 each section being surrounded by a chain, 42, Fig. 41, for keeping its plates packed side by side and for facilitating handling the same.

Third. Each spar 17 is lowered horizontally.

Fourth. The plates of each section are released by the removal of the chain 42, which permits the plates to descend to their lowermost positions, the section being thus distended.

Fifth. Each section is made to advance to the end of the spar 17 and the wire ropes are all secured in place.

\Vhile each section is described as composed of a number of plates, and that structure is deemed to be the best, it is practicable to have each section composed of asingle plate. These operations are reversed for bringing the apparatus 011 board.

In order to prevent the carrying-hooks 4 from disengaging with the rings 27, they are provided with a surroundingpiece, 43, and a pin, 44:.

I claim- 1. The hereinbefore described shield for protecting vessels against torpedo attacks, the same consisting of independent sections or series of metal plates and spars for suspending the same at a suitable distance from the sides thereof, so as to entirely orpartially surround or inclose the vessel, substantially as shown and described.

2. A section or series of the shield, the same consisting of a number of plates connected together by rods and eyes, so as to pack side by side or be distended, and provided with a spar for supporting the same from a vessel, substantially as described.

3. In a shield for protecting vessels against torpedo attacks, the combination, with supporting-bearings 18, secured to theside of the vessel, of the spars 17, each seated by a journal or axis in said bearings and provided with a ring, 27, for supporting a section or series of the shield, and with gear for raising, lowering, and supporting the spar, substantially as shown and described.

4. A shield for protecting vessels, the same consisting of independent sections of metal plates andspars for supporting the same, which spars are arranged to swing in bearings secured to the side of the vessel and provided with supports for maintaining them horizontally, and which sections are provided with rings and gear, whereby they may be moved from one end to the other end of the spars, substantially as shown and described.

5. The combination, with the vessel and a spar for supporting and a ring running on the spar for carrying a section or series of metal plates, of guide-pulleys 3O 32 34, secured to said spar, and a wire rope, 29, for operating the rings, substantially as shown and described.

6. The combination, with the vessel and se ries of spars 17, supporting the shield, of two holders, 25, associated with each spar, and two ropes, 23, each connected with one of said holders and secured to a spar, 17, whereby all the spars are maintained at a given height, substantially as shown and described.

7. The combination, with the plates of a section, of the wire rope 14, passing through eyes 10 10 of the lowermost plate, 7, and secured at 15 to an eye, 16, whereby the plates of a section may be made to slide against each other, substantially as shown and described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name, in the presence of two witnesses, June 20, 1885.

ALFRED CHRISTOPHER KOERNER.

Witnesses:

Rom. M. HOOPER, E. P. MAcLEAN. 

